BJean

yeah hon that's a hassle Perhaps you can get an exemption for that when you suck up for your license.

Can the general public contact the MDBA or CCs to ask if the breeder they thinking of purchasing from has had any complaints against them in the past? I imagine that the CCs would only tell you what is public information anyway ie: complaints that have been upheld. All upheld breaches of COE (what and by whom) are printed in the gazette (Dogs Vic).

If you are in an area with minimum 1 acre allottments then I'd be surprised if you could not use electric fence for containment ... anyway technically if you get a solar powered unit, its 'very powerful battery' not mains electricity. Yes the hot tape can get caught very easily, its also a pita to collect/install imo the heavy duty rope is much better. Though usually horses will stay away from the white tape once they realise what it means.

You can hot wire the mesh fence but you will need rubber insulators. Otherwise, dont use the traditional hot tape, the same manufacturer [Dakken (sp?)] makes electric rope often used for goats and beef cattle - their heavy duty rope is better than the tape bcz it is tougher and less likely to get caught. It also is a better conductor so the electric pulse travels faster. Dogs are better with a faster electric pulse than what is normally used for horses. Dogs can get caught up in the tape but near impossible to get caught up in the heavy duty rope. If a dog gets caught up in the tape they will die, so better to use the rope

how about Breeders write reviews on puppy buyers and puppy enquiries?

May be true in some breeds, but I have had a line of boxers, most of whom would gaily sail over tall fences - but only if left alone for what they considered "too long". One used to visit the neighbour. Another used to sit at the head of the drive from 4pm waiting for someone to return. Nothing wrong with their temperament .... but I understand and appreciate what you are saying. I've known dogs like that. Good day Jed From my perspective say with Anatolian/Kangal/cao there is a difference between having the athletic capacity and scaling over / digging under fences in response to a unique change in their environment; compared to scaling over / digging under fences in response to anxiety or excessive hyperactivity or insufficient sense of territory/pack - in the absence of any unusual change / stimulus. what is important, is not the actual ability or occurence of 'barrier breaking' (bcz i cant think of another word right now ), but the motivation. in your boxer example, would being left alone too long be unusual for them? ie not in the boxers usual routine of their environment. so the dogs would then scale the fence to redress (in their eyes) the 'change' (ie excessive absence)?

from my perspective, familial escape artists as you describe is the result of a temperament problem; ie nervy, anxious, excess hyperactivity. In my breed(s) I believe dogs prone to be escape artisits is a familial trait born from incorrect temperament.

how interesting ... the same person has been wanting a CAO puppy .... I dont know, does it matter? hmm...

If its any consolation and shows how wonderful and normal your dogs are Your Mia sounds like a well behaved angel compared to one or two of my dogs who would fight to maim or kill if another dog came near what was there's - and running under the table would not afford the dog they were affter any mercy. Mia is a good 'un

They must be the same sort of people that we see at the off-lead park claiming that their hyperactive crossbreed is as fast as, or even faster than a greyhound. Then they let their dog off lead and it madly races across the park as fast as its luxating little legs can carry it while Coconut runs rings around it at a very gentle gallop. ;)

Agree with SSMagpie and I think you're attributing too much emotion to what is normal dog behaviour ;) dog1: "I'm coming towards what you want" dog 2: "Get stuffed or I will kill you" [dog 1 skulks away] End of issue. Happy family resumes.

OFFTOPIC From the first day I saw your site I have always referred to your dogs as "But honneeyyyy I waannttt one, and it's my birthday soon, and Moon needs a brother and we just extended the house and pet insurance is cheap now and if we save and I promise I'll walk it everyday pleeeasseeee" dogs. The answer is always "When we get a farm we'll do more research" *grumps* thankyou ;) Im about to give them all their dinner now so will pass on the message that I'm not the only one who thinks they're ace

Using the term mongrel, isn't passing judgment or being derogatory; its just stating what the dog is - what value the owner then places on that name reference depends on the owner. I dont care what names people or the public refer to my dogs with - some references I prefer, others i dopnt but I dont get offended by them I dont get that precious. To others, the dogs are what they are and so it is apt (though not necesarrily preferred) to call the dogs by all the names they go by. Anatolian, Kangal, mongrel Turkish dog, wolf killer, wolf strangler, russian mastiff, fighting ovcharka, volkodav ... sure there are some descriptive terms I dont like but so what the dogs are what they are. imo if you find the term mongrel offensive or a 'dog snob swipe' you need to feel more secure and confident about your dog

Commenting on my breeds only: yes I have seen a dog become champion that is not IMO breed quality however being breed quality or not is subjective and what I deem breed qualty is through the lense my own bias and my interpretation of the ideal. Just because I think a dog/bitch is substandard for my breeding program does not mean that the dog is not deserving of its championship title and of breed quality for another breeder with a different interpretation of the ideal. On the OP topic ie: entropion When looking at import prospects imo it is buyer beware and in some countries entropion is accepted by some breeders, and in some countries dogs with entropion are shown and do well. However I'd expect an importer of these breeds to know this and to take caution about what they import ie buyer beware. Any import prospect I look at video, high resolution photos of the dogs eyes and the eyes of the parents etc

Yes that's right you can. Are you inferring that an exhibit with very bad entropion would still get its championship or BOB? Should there be a minimum number of entries before a breed can compete for BOB? Do you think ANKC judges incompetent to be unable to assess a dog if it is the only entry for its breed?

Yes okay I did not read that you were also bitten in the exchange. however imo from what I know of my breeds if the attacking dog was absolute in its intent, the fight would not have been absolved so easily or quickly. This is not said to diminish the seriousness of your encoutner I think it is great that the owner of the dog has cmade an effort to contact you; as the club cannot forward you their details [i understand the clubs position not to do so, though they could have been more supportive/proactive in acting as intermediary between the two parties]. The other dog attacks/incidents, are only hearsay, so it is plausible that your incident came as a shock to the owner. NB: imo the owner may be pushing the proverbial uphill attempting to do agility and accurate and offlead commands with an Anatolian. Its not really what the breed was bred for.

NO, but I expect if a vet has a strong opinion against any practise to do with dogs, they should at least know the total aspect of what it is they find so abhorrent. Afterall their profession is based on the accumulation of knowledge and lifelong learning.

I dont think you are over-reacting but I do think that it is an overeaction to conclude the dog is HA towards children. I hope you and your dog are both able to recover

The lino is that rough textured stuff, I've not found that slippery. The tiles are , so they are covered up. I limit the newspaper to one corner as I;ve found that slippery too. My guys head outside to play, at about 4 weeks. They are on the cement, grass and into the dirt at that age. Ah okay. That textured lino stuff sound svery useful , may save my bedroom carpet next litter hmmmm [currently use plastic drop sheets]

Yes this is my routine also. Except pups are outisde during the day at 5 weeks, and by 6 weeks are usually outside day and night

Query for those that have pups contained in an area that utilises lino, tiles, floorboards: do you add anything to the floor to give the pups traction when they move /play / run etc ? :D

Kangal - 4m 2f. Whelped in a draft free, sub-area of the barn, the whelping and rearing area is about 3m x 3metres, roof 1.4m in height. bedding and insulation made of straw. Also heat lamp set up from the far side of the ceiling area. (ie to the side of the area ceiling, not in the middle, so that dam was not exposed to full heat.) Pups were not handled at all for first three weeks, only looked in on to see that mum was nursing okay, and to give dam supplement feed: milk and eggs, whole dead chicken carcasses. [litter was whelped under breeders terms on farm ] Pups were first handled at three weeks of age to see what sex the puppies were. Pups were first weighed at 5 weeks of age so could be wormed. Dam was given no assisstance at all during the birth. Of 7 puppies born, 6 survived. Now 7 weeks and an outstanding litter, even type across the board, one exceptional bitch puppy and two lovely male puppies. All puppies either normal average (1m, 1f) or well above average (1f, 3m) weight for age. Exceptional female puppy at 6 weeks, 5 days. Weight 8.1kg Standout male puppy, 6 weeks 5days. Weight 9.0kg